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HEART TO HEART Pastor Lynda MacDonald, Nova Scotia |
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HOW TO GET WEALTHY In
recent years there has been a teaching that circulated through the “church” that
you can invest money in the kingdom just like “Wall Street” and you will
become rich because God will be indebted to you and He will have to repay you
‘a hundred fold in this life”. The
scripture that is most used is (Matthew 19:29) “Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive
one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.”” Another
scripture that is used to promote this teaching is 3 John 2 “I would that you prosper and be
in health even as you soul prospers.” I can
remember back a few years ago a popular TV evangelist announced that he was
giving a huge amount of money to the work of God because he needed a much
larger amount and God would have to give him “a hundred fold” back. As a
member of a local church, I attended many a “revival week” where a special
speaker came from afar and nightly spoke about the “prosperity message”. It
basically was about giving. The church needed funds to work at home and
abroad and we as believers should be walking as rich saints since our father
owned the cattle on a thousand hills. So, it just seemed natural that if we
gave ‘till it hurts and then give a little more” both financial problems –the
church and mine- would be solved. I
always had a hard time accepting that as I watched people I knew well give
out of their mortgage and bill money trusting for God to come through with an
overflow of money. Over
and over, we were taught the scripture from Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it shall be given unto
you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure
that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Now-
before you think that I do not believe in giving to The Most High –I surely
do! All that I have really is His but He gives me a portion to use. I believe
that the scripture does teach about offering up to God offerings and
sacrifices; however, I believe that Scripture is clear as to the motivation
of that giving. In
Exodus 25:2 Adonai said to Moses “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering:
of every man that gives it willingly with his
heart you shall take my offering.” And
in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, we see Paul repeat this heart of giving “Remember this: Whoever sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And
God is able to make all grace abound to you (grace- His power in you), so
that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his
gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who
supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase
your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You
will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” I see
a pattern here –my heart needs to be filled with cheer when I give. It is not
a heart that is cajoled into giving or made to feel chastised if I don’t. When
I love God so much that every part of my being responds my pocketbook will
too. I won’t need to be intimidated into giving or shamed into providing more
than I believe God is expecting. After
all - does He need it? Can’t He provide for the needs of His people like any
loving father does? Of course He can: and He does. I give because I love Him.
I don’t love Him because He gives me money. In
the NKJV, 3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in
good health, just as your soul prospers.” I like the way the Complete Jewish
Bible records this verse for it makes more sense. John is writing to Gaius,
his beloved friend “Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with
you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering
spiritually.” Sounds
to me like John is saying to Gaius, “Gaius, my wonderful friend, God will
meet all your needs as you are spiritually conformed to His Ways.” My
conclusion in regards to becoming wealthy is this… seek to walk in holiness
before an awesome God. Let Him into every part of you and He will flow
through and out of you meeting every need as He goes. It is
a win-win situation! Be sold out to
Him and you will find yourself loving to give. Lynda MacDonald, Nova Scotia |
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